More uranium riches

Reading our stack of old magazines we learn that the uranium prospecting madness peaked around 1955 and died out over the next year. Maybe after hundreds of eager prospectors threw their money away and got nothing in return.

Like in many other boom and bust scenarios, word spreads quickly when things don't turn out as advertised.

Here's one advertisement promising riches on the uranium bonanza. Yeah, right.

"Find uranium", 1955
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And here's another one -located in the opposite page of the same magazine. At least this ad promises the reader a money saving kit.

"Uranium geiger kit", 1955
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Are you sure this is safe? (2)

Using the Government as endorsement does not guarantee the safety of your product.

Here's an example. Would you use this contraption for exploring and spearfishing ?

"Diving apparatus", 1955
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The ad ends with the words "completely safe". Sure. Provided the operator does not get tired of pumping.

Glowing in the wind

The fifties were full of images of supersonic, futuristic and atomic regalia. Among all the fads and other ephemeral interests - who would have thought that amateur uranium hunting was so popular in the 1950's in the good old U.S.A?

This piece with "transistorized uranium finders" and "government cash bonuses" says it all - you buy amateur equipment, you stumble upon a rich uranium ore field and then you cash in the government bonus - easy.

It does not say anything at all about the nasty stuff; the fruitless weeks of rambling around the country waving a Geiger detector, the radiation poisoning or the long-term risk of leukemia.

Here's your chance to shine. Literally speaking.

"Uranium hunters", 1955
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Drive safe in the rain

Meet Mr. Vacuum. He is transparent, always wears a hat, hip glasses and a suit with a flower in the lapel. The height of gentlemen's fashion in the 1950's.

He also works powering windshield wipers in your car. Wait a second- are this Mad Ad Men actually using an outline of an invisible man to promote the wonders of vacuum? Bizarre.

A less-well known relative of the Invisible Man is helping you drive safely in the rain. Remember that.

"Mister Vacuum", 1955
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